Section C: Compartive Skills

How far do the American films you have studied for this topic depend on well-established narrative and/or genre conventions?

‘Genres are created through a process of repetition and recognition leading to anticipation and expectation’ – Graham Burton (2000)

Badlands and Natural Born Killers both depend on genre conventions and well-established narrative to help engage the viewer into the films, as well as convey symbols and ideas to the audience. However, whilst Badlands introduces the more important genre conventions, it seems to rely mostly on the narrative, particularly with Holly’s voice over. In contrast, from the scenes I have seen so far from Natural Born Killers, the director focuses on inputting as many genre conventions as possible for the ‘Lovers on the Lam’ theme.

The most obvious genre conventions for a crime/romance/road trip hybrid, are the locations – these vary between open plains to diners/motels – the props and clothing (denim, cars, and weapons), all the technical parts of it (low-key lighting, two shots) and finally the characters, the main two being the lovers as well as other characters that act as obstacle for the couple to overcome; this is usually a family member. In Badlands, it was the father only, but his death seemed rather accidental rather than planned, and Holly plays little part in it. This is very different to Natural Born Killers as not only was the father murdered, but the mother was too – Mallory was the reason their deaths occurred, not to mention she clearly enjoyed and aided Mickey.

Both Badlands and Natural Born Killers are loosely based upon the Charles Starkweather murders in 1958, which began with the deaths of his girlfriend’s family. Natural Born Killers was released at the time of the O.J.Simpson case as well as the Rodney King incident which began the L.A riots.

Whist the pace of the films are vastly different (Badlands being a very slow film, with Natural Born Killers as a polar opposite), the focuses are also varied: Badlands follows Kit and Holly’s time on the run, focusing more on the killers than any other aspect. As a result, the locations are generally in barren desert areas as they work to avoid the police after Kit kills Holly’s father. The crime in it is kept to a minimum – any murders shown are rather restrained, in keeping with the rest of the film – and instead relies more on expressing the emotions of the characters and their relationship.

Badlands has a very subtle use of conventions unlike Natural Born Killers which seems to overkill the main conventions based on what I have seen so far. Another contrast would be that the film focuses on the killing and the repercussions, as well as the idea that everyone is corrupt, meaning that society is also placed under analysis throughout the film.

Both of the films have the same reason behind the beginning of the killing spree road-trip: a dysfunctional family. With Holly, it was the basis on her mother’s death, but with Mallory it is the abuse she receives at the hands of her father and how her mother refused to intervene. Hence the contrast between the violence of the murders: a simple bullet for Holly’s father, but being beaten then drowned, and burning to death at the hands of your child for Mallory’s parents.

The dysfunctional family is the spark for the films, both follow the key themes of the ‘American Dream’, modern fairytale and the animalistic nature (this seems particularly evident in Natural Born Killers; the opening scene is filled with shots of natural predators). These themes are the ideals of the lovers, not to mention incentives to follow the path of crime.

One point about the relationship between the characters is how it is clear that, from what I’ve seen, Mickey and Mallory appear to have stronger feelings towards each other than Kit and Holly. In my opinion, the directors are trying to show the naivety in Holly (and possibly Kit) by having the characters mistake the obligation that they have to be together for love.

The film narratives are clear in contrast: Badlands is a very linear storyline, though it does seem to be reflected upon by Holly throughout the film, as her voice over hints at how the film would progress and end, not to mention how the society ended up treating the couple. Natural Born Killers however, appears to be a non-linear storyline, and, typically, these types of narrative contain flashbacks.

In my opinion, Badlands, whilst it contains a variety of genre conventions, depends more upon its well-established narrative. In comparison, from what I have seen of the film, Natural Born Killers relies more upon the genre conventions to the point of overkill in an attempt to satirize the genre.